Heoclisis Navás, 1923

Miller, Robert B. & Stange, Lionel A., 2012, The cave mouth antlions of Australia (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Insecta Mundi 2012 (250), pp. 1-65 : 44-45

Heoclisis Navás

Heoclisis Navás 1923: 12 . Type species: Myrmeleon fundatus Walker , by original designation.

Further description New 1985c: 54. Keys to species: Esben-Petersen 1915: 58; Kimmins 1939: 591; New 1985: 54. Biology: Stange and Miller 1985: 35, figures 11, 17, 25 (larva).

Description. Adult: body 23-55 mm, forewing 25-74 mm, hindwing 25-72 mm. Structure: distal palpomere of labium elongate with a long slit-like palpimacula; tibial spurs gently curved; hindfemur without elongate sensory hair; forewing costal area broad and two-celled from near base; radial sector in about same relative position to cubital fork (forewing) medial fork (hindwing) in both wings; hindwing with hypostigmatic cell more than seven times longer than high.

Larva: anterior margin of clypeal-labrum weakly sinuate, slightly emarginate at middle; antenna longer than basal width; distal palpomere about 2.5 times longer than wide; mandible with three teeth, broadened at level of tooth 1, distance between tooth 1 and 3 greater than greatest mandibular width; long setae on exterior margin of mandible extend to about tooth 1, longest setae about one-fourth greatest mandibular width; head without dolichasters, ventral surface glabrous except laterally; abdomen with long, black hair-like setae on sternites I-VII, sternites VIII and IX without short, peg-like setae but short, pointed setae present; sternite IX broadly rounded.

Distribution. Australia and possibly Oriental.

Biology. The larvae of Heoclisis have been found both in Zone 1 and Zone 3 as well as in open sand tracts. Zone 3 is represented by any area on the floor of the cave which is rain and sun protected and large and deep enough to support the roaming activities of large antlion larvae. The large Heoclisis fulva exclude species from the other zones by eating them. Heoclisis larvae found in Zone 1 have not been identified to species. Zone 1 is made up of substrate originating from the cave or rock overhang and is exposed to the sun, high temperatures, and rainfall. Species in this zone can handle outside conditions. Larvae do not construct pitfall traps and can move both forwards and backwards.

Discussion. Eight species are known from Australia and are among the largest species of antlions in Australia.